Initial coin offerings - Asking the right regulatory questions

31 July 2017

Initial coin offerings or ICOs are growing rapidly. Essentially a method of crowdfunding facilitated through blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies, ICOs are reported to have raised almost $1.3 billion globally from the start of 2017 despite being denounced by some commentators as Ponzi schemes. Companies and financial institutions are keen to explore the possibilities of ICOs – whether as a fundraising method or to cash in by acting as advisers or arrangers – but what are the risks, how are ICOs regulated and how might this change?